Salt Clothing fashion show in Oakland

At an April 11 runaway show in Oakland: Salt Clothing, top, weds itself to a flashy finale. The Oakland fashion show brought together local artists using sustainable materials, and mixing old and new style concepts. less

At an April 11 runaway show in Oakland: Salt Clothing, top, weds itself to a flashy finale. The Oakland fashion show brought together local artists using sustainable materials, and mixing old and new style ... more

Photo: Jessica Olthof, The Chronicle

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Bedsheets find a dressier purpose

Bedsheets find a dressier purpose

Photo: Jessica Olthof, The Chronicle

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Kalico Delafay's fine millinery is tops in a group or going solo

Kalico Delafay's fine millinery is tops in a group or going solo

Photo: Jessica Olthof, The Chronicle

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Organic fibers snag the spotlight.

Organic fibers snag the spotlight.

Photo: Jessica Olthof, The Chronicle

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audience members get a close-up

audience members get a close-up

Photo: Jessica Olthof, The Chronicle

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Salt designer Amber Clisura soaks up the love

Salt designer Amber Clisura soaks up the love

Photo: Jessica Olthof, The Chronicle

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Kalico Delafay's fine millinery is tops in a group or going solo

Kalico Delafay's fine millinery is tops in a group or going solo

Photo: Jessica Olthof, The Chronicle

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Model wears Salt Clothing's Fall 2013 line down the runway on April 11th, 2013 at the Oakland Metro Opera House in Oakland, Calif. Salt Clothing launches its new collection at the Oakland Metro Opera House. Alongside Salt Clothing's debut, Oakland fashion label field day will be debuting their current collection of eco-conscious daywear and Kalico Delafay will show her line of fine millinery. less

Model wears Salt Clothing's Fall 2013 line down the runway on April 11th, 2013 at the Oakland Metro Opera House in Oakland, Calif. Salt Clothing launches its new collection at the Oakland Metro Opera House. ... more

Photo: Jessica Olthof, The Chronicle

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Model wears Salt Clothing's Fall 2013 line down the runway on April 11th, 2013 at the Oakland Metro Opera House in Oakland, Calif. Salt Clothing launches its new collection at the Oakland Metro Opera House. Alongside Salt Clothing's debut, Oakland fashion label field day will be debuting their current collection of eco-conscious daywear and Kalico Delafay will show her line of fine millinery. less

Model wears Salt Clothing's Fall 2013 line down the runway on April 11th, 2013 at the Oakland Metro Opera House in Oakland, Calif. Salt Clothing launches its new collection at the Oakland Metro Opera House. ... more

Photo: Jessica Olthof, The Chronicle

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Shoes during Salt Clothing's Fall 2013 line fashion show on April 11th, 2013 at the Oakland Metro Opera House in Oakland, Calif. Salt Clothing launches its new collection at the Oakland Metro Opera House. Alongside Salt Clothing's debut, Oakland fashion label field day will be debuting their current collection of eco-conscious daywear and Kalico Delafay will show her line of fine millinery. less

Shoes during Salt Clothing's Fall 2013 line fashion show on April 11th, 2013 at the Oakland Metro Opera House in Oakland, Calif. Salt Clothing launches its new collection at the Oakland Metro Opera House. ... more

Photo: Jessica Olthof, The Chronicle

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Models walk down the runway wearing Kalico Delafay's designs from her line of fine millinery on April 11th, 2013 at the Oakland Metro Opera House in Oakland, Calif. Salt Clothing launches its new collection at the Oakland Metro Opera House. Alongside Salt Clothing's debut, Oakland fashion label field day will be debuting their current collection of eco-conscious daywear and Kalico Delafay will show her line of fine millinery. less

Models walk down the runway wearing Kalico Delafay's designs from her line of fine millinery on April 11th, 2013 at the Oakland Metro Opera House in Oakland, Calif. Salt Clothing launches its new collection at ... more

Photo: Jessica Olthof, The Chronicle

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Model wears one of Kalico Delafay's designs from her line of fine millinery on April 11th, 2013 at the Oakland Metro Opera House in Oakland, Calif. Salt Clothing launches its new collection at the Oakland Metro Opera House. Alongside Salt Clothing's debut, Oakland fashion label field day will be debuting their current collection of eco-conscious daywear and Kalico Delafay will show her line of fine millinery. less

Model wears one of Kalico Delafay's designs from her line of fine millinery on April 11th, 2013 at the Oakland Metro Opera House in Oakland, Calif. Salt Clothing launches its new collection at the Oakland Metro ... more

Photo: Jessica Olthof, The Chronicle

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Model wears the last look of the night for Salt Clothing's Fall 2013 line on April 11th, 2013 at the Oakland Metro Opera House in Oakland, Calif. Salt Clothing launches its new collection at the Oakland Metro Opera House. Alongside Salt Clothing's debut, Oakland fashion label field day will be debuting their current collection of eco-conscious daywear and Kalico Delafay will show her line of fine millinery. less

Model wears the last look of the night for Salt Clothing's Fall 2013 line on April 11th, 2013 at the Oakland Metro Opera House in Oakland, Calif. Salt Clothing launches its new collection at the Oakland Metro ... more

Photo: Jessica Olthof, The Chronicle

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Kalico Delafay's line of fine millinery shown on a model on April 11th, 2013 at the Oakland Metro Opera House in Oakland, Calif. Salt Clothing launches its new collection at the Oakland Metro Opera House. Alongside Salt Clothing's debut, Oakland fashion label field day will be debuting their current collection of eco-conscious daywear and Kalico Delafay will show her line of fine millinery. less

Kalico Delafay's line of fine millinery shown on a model on April 11th, 2013 at the Oakland Metro Opera House in Oakland, Calif. Salt Clothing launches its new collection at the Oakland Metro Opera House. ... more

Photo: Jessica Olthof, The Chronicle

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Models wear clothing from Oakland fashion label field day on April 11th, 2013 at the Oakland Metro Opera House in Oakland, Calif. Salt Clothing launches its new collection at the Oakland Metro Opera House. Alongside Salt Clothing's debut, Oakland fashion label field day will be debuting their current collection of eco-conscious daywear and Kalico Delafay will show her line of fine millinery. less

Models wear clothing from Oakland fashion label field day on April 11th, 2013 at the Oakland Metro Opera House in Oakland, Calif. Salt Clothing launches its new collection at the Oakland Metro Opera House. ... more

Photo: Jessica Olthof, The Chronicle

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Kalico Delafay's line of fine millinery shown on a model on April 11th, 2013 at the Oakland Metro Opera House in Oakland, Calif. Salt Clothing launches its new collection at the Oakland Metro Opera House. Alongside Salt Clothing's debut, Oakland fashion label field day will be debuting their current collection of eco-conscious daywear and Kalico Delafay will show her line of fine millinery. less

Kalico Delafay's line of fine millinery shown on a model on April 11th, 2013 at the Oakland Metro Opera House in Oakland, Calif. Salt Clothing launches its new collection at the Oakland Metro Opera House. ... more

Photo: Jessica Olthof, The Chronicle

Salt Clothing fashion show in Oakland

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The concept of sustainability is both thoroughly modern and retro, which is an apt description for the April 11 runway show that featured a range of local designers at the Oakland Metro Operahouse. The venue's name belied its unlikely interior; part concert venue, part brooding Victorian lounge, the setting proved fitting for fashion collections that culled inspiration from a range of historical eras. The few hundred guests displayed a hefty smattering of tattoos, artfully undone updos and jaunty hats as they sipped and snacked before the show began. The overall style was a sort of gothic shabby chic informed by everything from Edwardian England to the Dust Bowl.

The event launched designer Amber Clisura's inaugural women's line, Salt Clothing. The California College of the Arts graduate and former Del Forte Denim designer completed her collection two days in advance, which allowed her time to create the floor-length black dress she wore for the occasion, accented with a necklace by metalsmith Holly Bobisuthi, whose jewelry was also in Salt's runway show.

Field Day by Trinity Cross featured many waist-conscious knee-length dresses made from reclaimed vintage bedsheets and organic California cotton. The 10 looks, shown on models wearing exaggerated pigtail braids, were paired with cloche-style hats by T.S. I Love You, made of recycled materials, and Alchemilla jewelry created by Jen Lorang, who uses vintage and "deadstock" materials.

After a brief interlude from DJ Centipede, models dressed in black displayed Dollymop, Kalico Delafay's line of hats, which conveyed a Victorian film noir vibe. Delafay, who is a trained sculptor and corset maker for Dark Garden, said she'd been inspired by the " '30s tilt." While hats aren't worn with the regularity they were in the '30s, their elegance and drama were enough to inspire a resurrection of the tradition, especially if the audience is any indication.

Salt Clothing's presentation, with shoes donated by John Fluevog, started with striped leggings and voluminous layered skirts. Inspired by the hills of Peru, the puffy cap sleeves and belted silhouettes conveyed an innocence and simplicity, and worked well with the American chambray and denim with which they were made. Clisura's clothes are all made in America, with mostly organic or sustainable fabrics. The showstopping look of the night was the finale: a collared, sleeved wedding dress that was beautiful enough to end the strapless craze for good.